Fooling sets and rank

An $n\times n$ matrix $M$ is called a \textit{fooling-set matrix of size $n$} if its diagonal entries are nonzero and $M_{k,\ell} M_{\ell,k} = 0$ for every $k\ne \ell$. Dietzfelbinger, Hromkovi{\v{c}}, and Schnitger (1996) showed that n \le (\mbox{rk} M)^2, regardless of over which field the rank is computed, and asked whether the exponent on \mbox{rk} M can be improved. We settle this question. In characteristic zero, we construct an infinite family of rational fooling-set matrices with size n = \binom{\mbox{rk} M+1}{2}. In nonzero characteristic, we construct an infinite family of matrices with n= (1+o(1))(\mbox{rk} M)^2.Comment: 10 pages. Now resolves the open problem also in characteristic